Board gives maverick Hall fond farewell

Rachel Gordon

Published
4:00 am PDT, Friday, August 20, 2004

One of Tony Hall's hallmarks on the Board of Supervisors was that he often found himself on the losing end of 10-1 votes. And for that, Hall -- who gave up his District 7 seat to take charge of the Treasure Island redevelopment project -- was feted this week by his former colleagues, who presented him with an official commendation at their weekly board meeting. The theme: Hall's independent streak.

Supervisor Tom Ammiano said Hall never was afraid to take on an issue. "We never agreed, but we always had mutual respect," Ammiano said.

Jake McGoldrick told Hall he deserved praise for his "adherence to principle that's based on the courage of your convictions."

One by one the supervisors had kind words for Hall -- except Chris Daly, who tangled with Hall regularly since the two were first elected in 2000. Daly left the board chambers when the love fest started and didn't return until it was over.

As for Hall, he had tears in his eyes when he finally got to speak.

"I usually don't get emotional," he joked. "I'm usually fighting."

Hall then offered advice to his former colleagues, words that should be added to the oath of office for all elected officeholders: "Be honest and truthful to the people you represent."

He's back: Mayor
Gavin Newsom
coaxed campaign consultant
Jack Davis
out of his Sedona, Ariz., retirement to run the campaign against Measure M, which would bar property owners from razing buildings with 20 or more habitable units.

Davis, who has worked on behalf of landlords before, helped mastermind Willie Brown's mayoral wins, consulted on Newsom's mayoral run and won the ballot fight for a new 49ers stadium, although seven years later it has yet to be built. Puckish, aggressive and a veteran political operative, Davis said that Newsom called him three weeks ago to work on the campaign.

The November ballot measure was placed before voters by initiative. The Board of Supervisors originally approved the measure, but Newsom vetoed it, and supporters on the board couldn't muster enough votes for an override.

Opponents this week filed a lawsuit hoping to get the measure tossed on technical grounds, but if that doesn't happen, expect fireworks at the ballot. Helping lead the charge on the pro side are Daly and Randy Shaw of the Tenderloin Housing Clinic, bare-knucklers in their own right.

Meet the mayor: Newsom has scheduled a town hall meeting in District 5 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 28 at the
West Bay Conference Center
, 1290 Fillmore St. In tow will be fire and police brass and high-ranking representatives from other city agencies.

District 5 was not kind to Newsom in the mayor's race runoff last December, when Board of Supervisors PresidentMatt Gonzalez trounced him, 18, 128 votes to 11,146 votes. Now, eight months later, it will be interesting to see whether the political tenor has changed. Gonzalez isn't seeking re- election and 22 candidates are vying to replace him. Newsom has yet to make an endorsement.